Tor Browser - keyboard not functioning

[Craig Carnell]

I have installed tor browser v13.0.11 on 24.04 (noble). The keyboard does not operate, when typing no characters are appearing.

I have tried to enter a search and also type in a URL but this is not working.

I am using default Ubuntu desktop with wayland.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: torbrowser-launcher 0.3.7-1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.8.0-11.11-generic 6.8.0-rc4
Uname: Linux 6.8.0-11-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.28.0-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri Mar 8 16:01:36 2024
InstallationDate: Installed on 2024-03-08 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat" - Daily amd64 (20240306)
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 TERM=xterm-256color
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
SourcePackage: torbrowser-launcher
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Craig Carnell (craig-carnell)]

torbrowser-launcher:
  Installed: 0.3.7-1
  Candidate: 0.3.7-1
  Version table:
 *** 0.3.7-1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Thomas Ward (teward)]

torbrowser-launcher is only a tool to help download and update (and run) Tor Browser. It is not actually Tor Browser.

If you are having issues with Tor Browser, I suggest you enlist the help of the Tor community as issues with Tor Browser itself are not related to the Launcher tool.

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I'll add for FYI sake.. I've experienced this myself on my primary box (two weeks now); Lubuntu noble using LXQt/Xorg

I tried to re-create it using what was the Lubuntu current daily (this was a few days ago now); and the torbrowser-launcher worked perfectly in installing torbrowser for me to test & use.. No keyboard issues either on the live system.

[AsciiWolf (asciiwolf)]

I can reproduce this issue on a clean installation of latest Ubuntu 24.04 Beta (installed in a vm) with torbrowser-launcher-0.3.7-1build2.

No problem when using the Flatpak version. This may be an AppArmor profile related issue. Reopening the ticket.

Thomas, please look into this if possible. Thanks!

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[AsciiWolf (asciiwolf)]

If this is an AppArmor issue, it should be fixed ASAP. I can provide help if necessary.

[AsciiWolf (asciiwolf)]

We should also patch it in Debian and upstream afterwards.

[AsciiWolf (asciiwolf)]

Got it! Not sure why, but it is caused by the " #include if exists <abstractions/dbus-session>" line that we added in a downstream patch. Removing this line fixes the keyboard issue.

[AsciiWolf (asciiwolf)]

I have found the real reason and fix for this issue!

It seems that it is caused by no permissions for ~/.cache/ibus/dbus-* socket. But for some weird reason, the issue happens only if abstractions/dbus-session is included in the torbrowser.Browser.firefox AppArmor profile file.

Adding this line into torbrowser.Browser.firefox seems to fix the issue without any side effects:

  owner @{HOME}/.cache/ibus/dbus-* rw,

(This line is also present in the official Firefox AppArmor profile, but missing from the torbrowser-launcher one.)

[Martin D. Weinberg (martin-weinberg-5)]

Thanks for solving this. I made the change and confirm that keyboard input now works again!

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I'll add another affirmation that what Asciiwolf reports in comment #10 is working for me too on this (my primary) install where I've not had keyboard working for some time (see comment #4; late February 2024)

Add line & restart apparmor, and start torbrowser & I can use it for the first time in ages.

Thank you Asciiwolf - appreciate the solution.

I wonder if the package this bug report is filed against is incorrect; but sorry I don't know.

[AsciiWolf (asciiwolf)]

Thanks for the confirmation! Don't worry, the package is correct and the issue will hopefully be fixed soon.

[d1bro (d1bro)]

can also confirm comment #10 solves the issue

[Gafford Pearce (gypearce)]

Just downloaded and installed Ubuntu 24.04 yesterday and had the issue with keyboard not operating. I am brand new to Ubuntu/Linux and loving it so this is for new folks who don't understand a lot. Step by step:
first: the torbrowser.Browser.firefox file is found in the Ubuntu/etc/apparmor.d directory.
second: edit the file with a text editor and add the line in #10.

owner @{HOME}/.cache/ibus/dbus-* rw,

I added it after a bunch of other lines starting with owner @{HOME}...
third: Save the file.
Many thanks to AsciiWolf #10 for the above solution, it works perfectly.

fourth: you must now stop and restart apparmor using the command line

sudo /etc/init.d/apparmor stop
sudo /etc/init.d/apparmor start

Many thanks to Chris Guiver #12 for this subtle tip. You DO need to restart apparmor for it to work!
All of the above solutions are from other people, I hope I have put it in a format that will be easier for new users to follow. PLEASE let me know.